AFC Notes: Steve Bisciotti, Lamar Jackson, Mike Tomlin, Ravens, Steelers

The owner of crows Steve Bisciotti recently he said it is important that they sign a QB Lamar Jackson in the new extension, as his cap hit will rise to $74.5 million in 2026 and 2027. Bisciotti revealed that he has spoken with Jackson about the deal, and the quarterback appears to be in agreement. “it’s worth it.”

“If he doesn’t want to extend, then we’re going to throw that $74 million in wasted years, and Lamar is going to come back with the same number he was last year,” Bisciotti said, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. “It’s not what we want. We want another window, and Lamar knows that. I think he’s allowed to do something like the last deal he made, although the annual number will be a little higher. But I hope he will connect the new number to the contract he signed last year and continue. And the urgency of that is important to me because I don’t want to enter our agency freely. I made that clear to Lamar, and I think he was very appreciative of my situation.

Regarding the dismissal decision John HarbaughBisciotti said it was always his decision, and he didn’t need the players to be on his side.

“I made a decision on my own, and they understood,” Bisciotti said. “I didn’t need them to come to my side of the fence. It was a wonderful, wonderful wedding. My instincts told me that this was the time. I may be right, I may be wrong, but I did it because it was up to me. We love John like a brother. It was a very difficult decision that we made, but we did it.

Bisciotti remains confident in GM Eric DeCosta.

“Hits and misses, you have to balance them, and I think Eric is one of the best GMs in the league,” Bisciotti said. “I’m so happy for Eric.”

The owner of crows Steve Biscotti he said he would not refuse to hire the next coach if the circumstances show that it was not his fault.

“One thing I know I’ll take on the chin if our last person is an ex-[head] a coach with a losing record,” Bisciotti said, via ESPN.All of you will have to understand that we will be able to judge that failure by his circumstances and marry that and not withdraw them.“

Biscotti added that he believes the Ravens’ opening is the best available and many first-time coaches take jobs in dire situations.

“I think you have to remember that they were the hottest coaches in their cycle, and they got jobs and they got tough jobs, and I don’t think we had a tough job,” said Bisciotti.I think we created a great opening this cycle, so, that was one phase that I didn’t want to ignore, because the first thing you’re going to say is, ‘My God, he went 38-48 in his last job, and they’re hiring him. So, it would be very easy for me to try to avoid those old coaches because they have losing records, but I’m telling you, we are serious about their situation, and we will not let their first firing in the job affect us badly this time.”

Biscotti added that he plans to be patient with his next coach and did not rule out giving him a long-term contract and letting him see everything.

“Maybe I’ll give him a thumbs up [years],” Bisciotti said with a smile before adding, “Hopefully we’ll pick the type of guy that will take us there. I think we have a list that can do it. I think we have GM [Eric DeCosta] that can make that list better if you fly, and yes, I’ll be patient up to that point. I would probably give him five or six years – as long as I like everything else I see from him.“

Biscotti said he does not want to enter the cycle of hiring a new coach every few seasons.

“To me, that’s hell on Earth,” Bisciotti said.So, we will fix it, and we will fix it to be more patient. Is it fair to say that? We will be confident in our choice that we will give him good patience.“

Biscotti wants to do his job as hard as possible, but he doesn’t want the process to play out for too long so they can get a free-lance job and reshape the team in the image of new coaches.

“The urgency of that is important to me because we have free employees and I don’t want to go into a free business with that hanging over our head,” said Bisciotti.And I made that clear to Lamar and I think he was very appreciative of my situation and hopefully willing to work with Eric. [DeCosta, Ravens general manager] and let’s not pull this thing in April as the last one. It is very difficult for him to create a list when that thing is not resolved.”

The Steelers organization was surprised and upset when HC Mike Tomlin announced that he was about to step down.

“It was like a funeral,” said one of the employees, via The Athletic.I cried. It’s like finding out your father is dead.“

The team honestly thought Tomlin would stay with the organization for at least one more season.

“No one really saw it coming,” said another player.Do we have ink? There were rumors, but we thought he would play out his contract, at least for one year. We all thought at least one more year.“

Added another player: “We knew something was going to change. We just didn’t know it would be like that. The guys that have been around the longest, we don’t think Mike T was the problem. We honestly didn’t lose faith in the locker room. It was super emotional for us, because it’s not him.“